Steam conditioner for locomotives and the like



Aug. 7, 1934. c, HAWLEY STEAM CONDITIONER FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY 7, 4- c. G. HAWLEY 1,969,370

STEAM CONDITIONER FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS Aug. 7, 1934.

C. G. HAWLEY STEAM CONDITIONER FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 28) 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVENTOR 8m W q %m Y %W% ATTORNEY5I 4 Sheets-Sheet -4 INVENTOI;V

ATTORNEY5.

QKNN

C. -G. HAWLEY Filed July 28, 1950 Aug. 7, 1934.

STEAM CONDITIONER FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE Patented Aug. 7, 1934 STEAM CONDITIONER FOR LOCOMOTIVES THE LIKE AND Charles Gilbert Hawley, Centriflx Corporation,

poration of Ohio Application July 28, 1930, Serial No. 471,330

7 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus designed to exclude and remove impurities from steam at enters the engines.

The water in the boiler of a locomotive becomes, and generally is extremely dirty. Due to difiicult steam disengagement and the restricted steam space within the boiler, considerable quantities of dirty water are carried over into the 10 superheater and into the cylinder valves and cylinders of the locomotive. The quantities of moisture and of solids vary with the conditions prevailing within the boiler and the rate at which the locomotive is worked, but always there is a failure to furnish dry and clean steam to the superheater and engines.

Wet steam imposes upon the superheater the abnormal duty of evaporating the water and is objectionable on that account for it necessitates '20 arbitrary enlargement of the superheating surfaces and increases costs.

The solids or dirt accompanying the water not only clog the superheater, leaving objectionable deposits therein and exposing it to burns", but

also penetrate to the valves and cylinders of the engine. Thus the presence of solids in the steam makes for high costs of maintenance.

Again, Water which reaches the cylinders, washes away the lubricant and the solids destroy so the efficiency thereof and thus both interfere with the free movement of the pistons, the dirt in particular hastening the wear, upon the active surfaces of the valves, cylinders and packings. And primarily, resistance to the movement of the 5 engine valves and pistons, results in directly cutting down the power of the engines.

Much resistance can be avoided by conditioning the steam, that is, by removing both moisture and solids, before the steam is permitted 40 to enter the engines. By so doing, the lubricated surfaces are liberated from those destroyers; and, by freeing the moving parts, great savings are accomplished.

Other savings are accomplished by returning the separated moisture and its heat to the boiler, as hereinafter explained. The return of water sometimes reaches a great amount, but under ordinary conditions is small as far as heat is concerned but is never negligible as concerns water cost. And by relieving the superheater from the duty of evaporating excess Water and leaving it free to perform its normal function of imparting heat to the saturated steam, a higher superheat is obtained from a given heating surface. By this antecedent cond tioning of the steam the overall or combi the boiler and superheater is as the indicated horsepower.

But while the savin are of importance and savings result from avoidin abnormal friction in the That is accomplished by ex solids which ordinarily ret ments of the engines.

The above recited savin tives and make-up of the trains.

These matters" pertaining to the value of the present invention and which some time be attained by other mented upon for the purpose tion to a fact that is not discl Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cleveland, Ohio, a cornary consideration of modynamic standpoi The disturbance of In matter of fuel consum d; nor conditioning apparatus been In conformity with the for object of the invention is to rable, dependable and eco fectively purifying. or c from a locomotive boil steam is permitted to pipe or steam outlet of the b0 Special objects of the invention are to improve nized or acknowledge nts. ford a sure gauge of the boiler and engines; but are assumed to have been 1i mal internal resistance.

tomary to include frictio culations, but the friction obviously,

ned efficiency of increased, as well gs thus figurable inheat evident, the greatest g the development of valves and cylinders. cluding the water and ard the primary movebrication by water from the boiler has long been recognized and many efforts have been made to exclude the water; and perhaps in a few instances, the detrimental effect of dirt in the steam has been observed in its proper light but it is certain that until now the effects of steam entrained water and dirt upon the hauling power of locomotives and upon the ption have not been recoghas adequate steam available.

egoing, the'primary' provide simple, dunomical means for efonditioning the steam er or the like before the the so-called dry iler.

may means, are comof calling attenosed by the ordithe locomotive from ther- Thermodynamics af- I heat performance of y when the engines berated from abnor- True, it has been cusn as an element of calfactors have been based do not apply with certhe self-contained steam purifiers now generally known under the names Centrifix and Centrifixtures and to adapt them to that downfiow of steam which is characteristic of locomotive I operate reliably at all times and yet oppose the least possible resistance to the passage of the steam; to the end that the steam shall reach the engines at maximum pressure as well as clean and dry. I

As will presently appear, the means employed for cleaning the steam with little loss of pressure and the'means essential to the returning of the separated moisture to the boiler are so intimately related as to be virtually one and the same, although the several effects are accomplished in difierent parts of the conditioner.

Further objects of the invention have to do with the construction of a steam conditioning appliance which shall be particularly suited for use within boiler domes and which shall be so constructed and assembled that it may be readily placed within and removed from the dry pipe Whenever ,t-hedome cap is removed.

Still other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter in conjunction with the descriptions of the structural features to which they apply.

The manner in which'these objects are attained and the specific forms and relations of the parts which comprise the steam conditioner hereof and which serve to combine it with other parts of the boiler, will be readily understood upon referenceto the accompanying drawings; aided by the following detailed description.

In said drawings, Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section, depicting a locomotive and my novel steam conditioning apparatus;Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the dome of the' locomotive with the dome cap removed and the conditioner partly raised through the dome opening;-Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation ofthe conditioner and the dry pipe standpipe upon which it rests;'Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a. section on the line 5 '5 of Fig. 3;-Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;Fig. '7 is a vertical section of the tuyre member of the conditioner upon the line 77 of Fig. 4;Fig. 8 is a sectional detail substantially on the'line 8-8 of Fig. 3 -Fig. 9 is a sectional detail illustrating the means by which one part of the conditioner is kept from turning upon the other part ;Fig. 10 is a vertical section like unto Fig. 3 but much enlarged, the better to depict the preferred construction of the conditioner;-Fig. 10a is a small diagrammatic view which will facilitate an understanding of the operation of the invention;-Fig. 11 is a vertical section of a conditioner of a modified form containing within its lower part different devices for the retention and discharge of the separated'water;-Fig. 12 is a like view illustrating still another form of the final water separating means;Fig. 13' is a sectional view like unto Fig. 10, but modified to include a tangential or whirl-promoting tuyre of Fig. 10;-and Fig. 14 is a vertical section illustrating a modification of the invention which includes a whirlpromoting tuyre of still another type. Figs. 15,

casement of those conditioners, as required to adapt them for inclusion in steam lines, air pipes and the like. I

The familiar parts of a locomotive, pertinent to this invention, are briefly identified as fol- -lows;-The steam boiler shell is marked 2, the

which contains a large opening, normally closed.

by the dome cap 11. The dry pipe or steam outlet appears at 12, and 12 represents the standpipe portion thereof which opens downward within thedome '10. The steam leaving the steam space 13 above the water 14 in the boiler, ascends into the dome and thence passes downward through the standpipe 12 and thence forward through the dry pipe 12. The latter extends through the flue sheet 4 and is joined to the first compartment of the superheater header 15. The second compartment of that header, through the medium of the connections 16, communicates with a so-called front-end throttle 17, which is positioned within the smok'ebox 6. The saturate steam from the dry pipe 12 passes through superheating loops or elements 18 which are connected with the header 15 and are positioned within the fire tubes or fiues 5, there to be heated by the gases from the firebox. The throttle valve is connected with the engine valves 7 and cylinders '7 by the usual steam pipes 19 and obviously the throttle valve controls the how of the steam from the steam space 13 within the boiler and to engines of the locomotive, the superheater being interposed. The part 20 diagrammatically represents the throttle rod extending rearward from the valve 7 and 21 is the throttle lever which is positioned within the cab 22 of the locomotive. The parts 20 and 21 are distorted in position, to render them visible upon the drawings.

The steam conditioner which comprises the chief element of the present invention is represented by the device or fixture which is marked A, in Fig. 1. That device comprises the conditioner hereof and is smaller-than the interior ofthe dome, indeed, much smaller than indicated in Fig. 1, for in order to show the device clearly it has been necessary to exaggerate its proportions as contrasted with those of the steam dome. In practice, a large, free space 10' remains within the dome, surrounding and enclosing the fixture A. The steam rises into the dome through the large opening 2 in the boiler shell 2 and first flowing, through the fixture then passes downward through the standpipe portion 12 of the dry pipe, The fixture A affords the only avenue through which the steam may pass from the boiler and into the dry pipe and administers to the passing stream an antecedent treatment that serves to rid the steam of impurities before it reaches the dry pipe; and thus ensures the remarkable savings above reported.

The fixture or conditioner A is a circular or substantially cylindrical object which is smaller than the opening 10" in the top of the steam dome 10, and which therefore may' be readily lowered into the steam dome or raised out of the same whenever the hole 10" is open. Once the conditioner A has been positioned upon the upper end of the dry pipe, as here shown, the dome liO cap 11 is bolted into place, and in turn serves to hold the conditioner A in place upon the standpipe 12'.

In order that the conditioner may be placed within and removed from the steam dome with the greatest ease, it is devised to telescope vertically upon the upper end of the standpipe l2, and preferably is itself composed of vertically telescopic parts, and one after the other of those parts may be lowered or raised through the dome hole, thus further facilitating the use of the device.

Much of the moisture contained by the steam rising within the dome is intercepted by the external surface of the conditioner A and collecting thereon falls back into the boiler through the hole 2 at the base of the dome. This has a most important bearing upon the exclusion of slugs of water and greatly reduces the work which must be done directly within the conditioner.

The above mentioned work which is done within the conditioner, A, is that which finally clarifies the steam and is accomplished centrifugally, but without resort to rotating parts. The conditioner as a whole is a stationary element which is non-rotatively fixed upon the top of the standpipe 12'. One part of the conditioner comprises a fixed tangential tuyere which is composed of a plurality of inclined blades all having the same direction and symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis of the conditioner. The blades form an equal number of inclined tuyeres or ports through which the steam tangentially enters the interior of the conditioner. Because of its angular entrance, the moving steam takes on a rapid whirling motion within the conditioner and about the vertical axis thereof.v The effect of such entrance and whirling motion is to throw the contained water against the inner periphery of the conditioner. The movement of the steam is whirlingly downward toward and into the open upper end of the standpipe. The downward whirling movementof the steam, aided by gravity, causes the water to be lodged in the bottom of the conditioner. As hereinafter explained, provision is there made for the reception of the water and for its sure retention; otherwise the water, or at least much thereof, would be re-entrained and swept through the outlet.

The water may be drained or discharged from the bottom of the conditioner, A, through any convenient conduit or conduits, provided the discharge of the water is made quick and certain. Following ordinary practice, it may be discharged upon the exterior of the locomotive, as'by means of an automatic trap or traps capable of working at boiler pressure. But the water is hot; and the ejection thereof to any appliance upon the exterior of the boiler constitutes a waste of both. water and heat. Therefore, one of the definite objects of this invention is to both intercept and retain the water within the boiler; which means that that which enters and is separated within the conditioner, as above explained, must be returned to the main body of water within the boiler.

Virtually, gravity is the only force available for the purpose of returning the water to the boiler, and a further object of the invention has to do with the provision of a conditioner which shall so operate as to permit the intercepted water to be discharged by gravity. The structures essential to so doing will be explained in detail. Meantime, attention is directed to the parts a which hang from the bottom of the conditioner proper,

A. Those parts are vertical tubes or pipes, the open upper ends of which are fixed in the bottom of the conditioner and provide open drains therefor.-. The lower ends of the pipes a hang within the water in the boiler, that is, the parts a are long enough to completely bridge the steam space and reach to a level which is well below the lowest water level permitted in the boiler. The low- -er ends are therefore always submerged in the water, and thus the pipes a become pressure compensating columns which operate between the conditioner and the water in the boiler.

The steam enters freely through the tuyeres and the interior of the conditioner is in direct communication with the dry pipe or steam out-' let of the boiler. At the same time the interior of the conditioner is in direct communication with the whole body of water in the boiler because of the employment of the compensating drain pipes a. However useful the upper part of the conditioner in the matter of whirlingly separating the incoming moisture, that operation would be unavailing unles's harmonized with the action of the pipes a and made to ensure the run-ofi of the intercepted water.

In brief, any whirling action of the steam at the outlet of the boiler entails some expenditure of energy and in consequence the pressure within the conditioner and at the steam outlet is somewhat less than the prevailing pressure in the boiler. Too great a drop of pressure through the conditioner would cause water to rise within the pipes a and to be entrained with the steam departing through the dry pipe. This tendency is in part nullified by the height of the pipes a which permits compensating columns of water to rise a considerable distance toward the conditioner, A, and still leaves the upper part of the ipes open for-the reception of water from the conditioner. But this in itself is not enough, and a' special object of this invention is to provide a construction which shall perform the function of maintaining within the conditioner a pressure closely equaling that in the surrounding steam space to the end that the need of the compensating functions of the drain pipes shall be minimized. Thus the pipes will be permitted to operate constantly as drains and their compensating action virtually limited to emergencies.

Such emergencies are presented in the pulsations of steam through the conditioner and dry pipe in response to the action of the reciprocating engines of the locomotive. In other words, sudden drafts of steam occasion swift variations of pressure within the conditioner and these variations must'be limited and compensated for every stroke of the engines, otherwise Water will be discharged along with the steam. That is the work which is imposed upon the conditioner in addition to its main function of separating water from the steam and is an added function which is performed by the internal construction of the conditioner proper together with thecompensating drains a. ,The overall effect is to prevent the a. is reduced, the water from the boiler tends to rise to a compensating height in the pipe a but the inflow being limited by the small hole a2 a considerable time is consumed in filling that pipe and within that time, the pressure differences are adjusted within the conditioner thus defeating the rise of water into the conditioner. Incidentally, the checking of the rising column prevents the development of an upward momentum which might carry the water to an abnormal height in the drain pipe a, after the manner of a standing wave. Thus constructed, the drain pipe a not only ensures the safe downward delivery of water from the conditioner. but also prevnts flooding of the conditioner from beneath. The maximum pressure diiference is less than that which would cause the conditioner to flood and is a factor which is determined by the internal construction of that element, as will be explained presently.

The water ejecting pipes a are in efiect integral parts of the conditioner A. They hang down alongside the standpipe 12' and are tightly jointed to the conditioner; hence they are raised and lowered therewith within the dome and without disconnection from the element A. The vertically telescopic relation of the elements A and 12' permits the parts A and a to be thus installed and removed as a unit, and without in any wise interfering with or necessitating change or adjustment of either portion 12 or 12' of the dry pipe. Incidentally, the rigid pipes a straddle the elbow 12' and preventthe rotation of the conditioner thereon. Other means such as the interlocking pin 12" of Fig. 10 may be used for the purpose and always some such precaution must be observed, for the steam impacting the angular tuyere blades of the conditioner exerts considerable torque, and obviously the conditioner should be held against rotation and consequent unnecessary wear.

As shown throughout the drawings each conditioner or fixture is characterized by a short central portion 12a which is a tubular part or extension of the upper end of the standpipe 12', said extension rising above the shoulder 23 provided on the standpipe and whereon the conditioner rests. The part 12a being tubular provides the steam outlet, 0, of the conditioner. The portion 12a may be integral with the standpipe 12', but most conveniently is combined with the body of the fixture and therewith is removable from the upper end of the standpipeu The beforementioned, vertical, telescopic joint between conditioner and standpipe, is marked 24.

A floor 25 extends radially from the base of the part 12a and forms the bottom of the fixture and contains the drain holes 26 and. 260. into which the upper ends of the drain pipes a are screwed. Rising at the periphery of the floor 25, is the substantially cylindrical body of the conditioner which body is of greater diameter than the outlet 0. Because of its greater diameter the body portion affords accommodation fora whirlpromoting tuyre at its top and space for collected water at its bottom.

Almost any whirl-promoting device may be positioned in advance of the steam outlet and will cause a centrifugal separation of the dirty water accompanying the steam. But that operation should be performed with the least possible resistance to the flow of the steam hence a preference for the tuyre of Figs. 1 to 12, over those which are shown in Figs. 13 and 14. For conditioners of the same size or capacity, the latter ofier smaller steam passages and greater resistin the boiler.

ance, entailing higher pressure drops. Further, the entrained water not only must be eliminated from the steam immediately in advance of the steam outlet, but also must be promptly and completely'removed from the neighborhood of that outlet, otherwise re-entrainment of some or all of the moisture is sure to occur.

The height of the body portion, measured from the floor upward, may be less than its diameter; a feature that becomes important when it is realized that a fixture of low altitude may be quite wholly accommodated within the dome of the locomotive and.the positioning of the floor 25 of the fixture high above the water in the boils provides height for the drain pipes a and makes them correspondingly eifective as pressure-equalizing devices. While apparently a mere matter of chosen dimensions, it is nevertheless characteristic that this conditioner is of little .height and yet is adapted to perform its work at little cost of pressure and with assurance of the return of the intercepted water to the main body within the boiler. Thereby, the conditioner'is adapted for use in modern locomotives which have very low steam domes and carry water at high levels, leaving all too little space within which the steam conditioning operation can be performed.

It is to be further remembered that water levels are frequently much higher than indicated by the normal level, 14, shown in Fig. 1; leaving the drain pipes a with lessened capacities of pressure compensation. And that difficulty is accentuated by the erratic and fluctuating steam demands of any locomotive in road service; demands which vary from nothing to maximum within an instant of time and fluctuations which are repeated many times within short periods.

Briefly, it is not enough merely to place the conditioner as high as possible above the water Means must be provided for accomplishing separation but it is quite as important that the discharge of the water be ensured and the quantity to be disposed of is very large. The amount of moisture carried by the steam depends upon many factors, but chiefly the state of the boilerwater and the restriction of the steam space above the varying water level in the boiler. By weight, the quantities may vary from one percent to fifteen percent and more. And thus in the case of a boiler evaporating say seventy-five thousand pounds of water per hour, the quantity to be intercepted and thrown back by the conditioner may easily be anywhere from seven hundred and fifty to eleven thousand pounds of water per hour. These figures are given in order that the work to be done by the conditioner shall be correctly comprehended inrelation to its redelivery such great quantities of water can only be accom- L plished through the agency of very capacious drain ducts and it may at once be stated that such drains can only be employed when means are at hand to constantly ensure high pressures within them for, if the pressures below, the water will not enter the ducts with suflicient rapidity to ensure discharge through any automatic trap that can be found for use upon the exterior of a locomotive boiler, and if internal ejection is attempted lower pressures at the tops of the submerged drain pipes would permit water to rise from the boiler, making conditions worse than they would be without a conditioner.

bare, as 15 shown in Fig. 2.

In anticipation of further descriptions, it should 'now be said that a fundamental object of the invention, plural in character, is to effectively rid the steam of entrained moisture and solids by a minimum expenditure of energy, and, to accomplish both the release and the ejection of the dirty water at pressures so nearly equaling boiler pressure as to permit the emptying of the water directly within the boiler at all times; notwithstanding fluctuations of steam flow and even when the working water level is abnormally high.

The problems involved and'the major accomplishments of the invention being understood, a steam conditioner of the best form will be described in detail and in terms which will fully identify it with the foregoing statements.

The conditioner which is preferred over others, is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, '7 and 10 and in design is dominated by whirl-promoting tuyere of barrel-like form; comprising a circumferential series of operatively overlapping blades 27 which parallel the vertical axis of the steam outlet 0. The blades form the tangential tuyeres or ports 28. Preferably, they are individual metal plates, each bent upon a vertical line 2'7, and all blades are positioned upon like tangents to an imaginary cylinder of large diameter than the outlet, 0, and which includes their inner edges, 2'7". The vertical edge lines 27" therefore mark the inner periphery of a circular or cylindrical tuyere. As shown, that tuyre is coaxial with the outlet 0, and is of larger diameter. The top of the tuyere comprises a circular plate 29, preferably a metal casting that integrally includes the upper ends of all the blades. Similarly the lower end of the tuyre is formed by a cast metal member 30 integrally united with the lower ends of all the blades. Obviously, the parts, 2'7, 29 and 30, being immovably united comprise a strong and rigid structure, fully capable of withstanding the torque of the steam which impacts the outer faces of its blades and flows swiftly inward through its many tangential tuyeres or. ports 28. The base member 30 of the whirl-promoting tuyere, instead of being a disc, like the cover plate 29, is ring-like and contains a central opening 31, which again is of greater diameter than the coaxial steam outlet, 0, of the conditioner.

The ring portion 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, is conveniently integral with the circumferential wall portion 32 of the conditioner and preferably said wall 32 and the ring 30 are of the same outside diameter. The wall is relatively thin and hence a circumferential race or cavity 33 is formed beneath the base of the whirl-promoting portion. The outer wall of the conditioner is completed by the lower portion 32, which latter is integral with the bottom 25. The parts 32 and 32' telescope, one upon the other, as shown at 24, a tight joint being completed by the circumferential bearingor seat 23. An interlocking pin or dowel 32" joins the parts 32, 32 and prevents any rotation of the upper part of the conditioner upon the rotatively fixed bottom part thereof. The telescopic union of the upper and lower parts is a convenience in the assembly of the fixture and obviously enables the opening thereof for inspection. The lower part, comprising the floor 25, is heavy enough to retain its telescopic place upon the standpipe when the upper part is so lifted and yet is itself easily removable from the standpipe as before explained.

When both parts of the conditioner are removed, the upper end of the standpipe is left It is most convenient that the whole conditioner may be so lifted out of the dome without need of breaking any joint in the dry pipe 12, 12. Further, the bare upper end of the standpipe is far below the opening 10 in the dome, and in the absence of the conditioner there is ample space through which a workman mayrenter the boiler; removal of the standpipe is avoided; likewise the need for a separate manhole i l the top of the boiler.

The all portion 32 rises to a higher level than the outlet portion or upper end of the dry pipe 12a. Thus the ring portion 30, which defines the base of the whirl-promoting portion of the conditioner, is axially separated from the underlying margin 12b of the steam outlet. That space comprises and is termed a centrifugal separating race, of which the before-mentioned cavity 33 is a part. Within that race is performed the work of separating the water from the whirling steam, plus the work of preparing or positioning the water for deposition in a water reception space which immediately underlies the race, both being within the body of the conditioner.

Further referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 10, it will'be seen that the water reception space next above mentioned comprises the radially extensive annular compartment which exists between the central upstanding tubular outlet portion 12a and the outer wall 32, 32' and which extends vertically from the floor 25 to the level of the top edge 12b of said upstanding tubular part 12a. The race and the reception space contain parts and peculiarly disposed surfaces which serve to hold the water against re -entrainment and which reliably accumulate and maintain within the bottom of the conditioner'steam pressures that so nearly equal the pressure of the steam entering the tuyere thereof as to ensure the drainage of the water through open eject ducts, such as the pipes 11'.

The parts and surfaces that perform these important oflices in a conditioner of the best construction, comprise the before identified part 30;the overhanging surface 30a presented by the underside of the tuyere base 30;the downwardly extending wall surface 32a;the broad truncated conical surface 34, called a racefloor;-the member 35 which presents said surface 34;the annular wall 36 upstanding from the bottom 25 and supporting the member 35;- the downhanging surface 37 presented by the peripheral wall portion 35' of the member 35; the overhanging surface 38 also presented by the member 35;and, the truncated conical surface or lower race floor 39 which pitches downward and outward from the edge 1211 that defines the steam outlet of the conditioner. For convenience in manufacture, likewise inspection, as shown at 43, one or more fastenings 44 may be used to fix its position on the supporting wall 36.

The portions 32, 32'-36-12a. form the beforementioned water reception space into two compartments 40 and 41. These are separate and relatively capacious water reception cisterns and through the aid of the associated parts and surfaces become maximum pressure spaces, through the agency of which adequately high pressures are maintained at the tops of the compensating drain pipes a. The top of the cistern 40 is in restricted outer communication with the space 33, a narrow, annular opening 40a remaining between the member 35 and the wall surface 32a. A similar annular slot 411; joins the open race and the cistern 41, being provided between the outer edge of the part 39 and the part 37.

If lines were drawn between the outlet edge 12b and the lower edge of the whirl-promoting portion, such lines would define a downwardly converging approach to the outlet, 0, and would also define the inner margin of the water separating race. Approximately in, the conical zone thus defined, the water leaves the downwardly whirling stream of steam, and, due to the centrifugal forces developed, the water is projected into the outer and lower parts of that race.

Aswill be clear from the drawings, the member 35 contains a central opening 35a of an intermediate. size, said opening being smaller than the vopening 31 at the base of the whirl-promoting tuyere and larger than the outlet, 0, of the conditioner; The part 35 presents an inner edge 351) which, like the imaginary converging lines,above defined, serves to mark the open or inner periphery of the separating race.

Theintermediately positioned opening 35a is in eifect an intermediate orifice and it will now be noted that the coaxial openings 31, 35a and 0 provide the conditioner with an outlet orifice of a multiple order, and that the three openings,

diminishing in size toward the bottom of the con- I ditioner, also define the convergence toward the outlet, 0.

Next, it is to be noted that by the presence of the 'intermediately positioned floor part 35, the

space between the base of the tuyere and the outlet, O,-'is divided and is formed into two distinct races R and R, of sizes diminishing in the direction'of the-outlet.

Obviously, the race R- works in conjunction with the large annular cistern 40, while the race Rfis of smaller outside diameter and operates with the cistern 41. The upper and larger race receives the bulk of the separated water, the residue only being deposited within the smaller effects of water ejection and of pressure maintenance in the cisterns are secured through the use-of'the downwardly and outwardly pitched surfaces 34 and 39 .here exemplified. Further,

the depth of the'water disposal portion must be considered for reasons hereinbefore mentioned, and it is fortunate that the best effects of separation and pressure in the cisterns are secured by using conical surfaces 34 and 39 which substantially conform to the downwardly and outwardly pitched resultants of the axialandcentrifugal movements and forces within the conditioner, particularly as influenced by the enforced convergence and constriction of the steam in the direction of the outlet. The annular cisterns 40 and 41 do not communicate at the bottom and therefore. pressures are independently maintainedtherein. In practice the pressures are nearly the same, but not sufiiciently reliable to permit the cisterns to be interconnected. This is explained by the varying quantities of water thrown into the cisterns. They have separate drains 26 and 2611. To increase the capacityof the outer cistern and allow the breadth of floor required to accommodate the large drain pipes a, the wall 32' is swelled The three holes 26, 26 and 260, are generally.

equidistant and so spaced from the center of the fixture as to allow the placement of drain pipes a upon opposite sides of the elbow-like standpipe.- Thus positioned, none of the parts interfere with the lifting of the conditioner from the boiler; and, when in position, the rigid drain 'pipes. a. prevent the turning of the conditioner upon the elbow 12'.

The flaring, conical part 45 appearing within the top of the conditioner is fixed at the center of the cover-plate 29 and hangs within the tuyre, directly above the outlet, 0. -Its concavity or central sink 46 is presented toward that outlet, and as hereinafter more fully explained, the device functions as a vortex-controlling element, and, operates to exclude from the outlet a quantity of moisture, which, first moving upward and thence inward beneath the tuyere top 29, would otherwise descend and escape along the axis of i the vortex or whirling body of steam within the conditioner.

Other matters of construction being now understood, it remains to more particularly describe the whirl-promoting tuyere in relation to the high pressures that should be and are provided for and maintained in the lower part of the conditioner and in the dry pipe or steam outlet whenever the device is in operation. Obviously, pressures are equal throughout the steam dome and the open conditioner when the latter is not in operation; when the throttle valve 1'1 is closed. But, as soon as a flow is established, steam enters the conditioner through it tangential tuyre openings or ports 28 and is gauged by the capacity and inclination thereof. The tuyre surfaces offer resistance and the persistent changing of the direction of the steam as it moves toward the outlet, 0, has a similar restrlctive effect. The aggregate area of the tuyereopenings 28 'is to be compared with the cross sectional area of the outlet, 0, and under this invention that aggregate area is made to exceed the area of the outlet, to the end that the easier access thereby afforded the steam shall result in supplying the outlet of the conditionerwith clean steam at a pressure whichis only slightly less than that within the dome or upper part oi the boiler.

For conditioners of the larger sizes and capacities, tuyere areas half again as large as the outlet are found to reliably serve this important ofiice. Conditioners of the smaller diameters and which therefore accentuate the centrifugal resistances within them are provided with tuyeres having still greater aggregate areas in proportion to respective steam outlets. These citations ensure the best results. Obviously the invention is not specifically limited thereto.

The aggregate area of the tuyere is determined by the width of one tuyere, 28, measured between overlapping tuyre blades, and multiplied by the number of such tuyre openings and by the height of said blades and openings. And clearly, such dimensions are within the control of the designer and it is an easy matter to provide aggregate areas of the sizes demanded by the foregoing, and requisite to the best operation of each conditioner made hereunder.

The operation of the invention will be best understood from Fig. 10, in which an attempt has been made to illustrate the actions that take place within the conditioner. The steam passes inward through each of the many tangential tuyeres '28, and entering in that manner tends to maintain its tangential motion within the conditioner, as indicated by the arrows marked S, each flat stream being deflected by the inner surfaces of succeeding blades of the tuyere. A rotating body or vortex, is thus organized and maintained within the upper part of the conditioner. Due to the presence of the tuyere cover or end 29, the escape of the steam is limited to the outlet at the bottom of the conditioner, and the continuing escape of the steam at the outlet being permitted, ensures the continuing entrance of steam through the many tuyeres. Thus the vortex is constantly maintained within the conditioner, and the steam is caused to move spirally downward to the outlet. Such downward movement is definitely controlled by the construction of the lowest part of the conditioner, whereby the constriction of the vortex is accomplished in stages that lend themselves to the certain separation of the water and yet obviate abnormal or objectionable pressure drops, and all within a very limited space measured vertically. These matters are important from any standpoint and are enlarged upon hereinafter.

The whirling motion of the steam within the conditioner develops definite centrifugal forces which tend to radially expand or distend the vortex. Such forces, of necessity are expended against the inner peripheral surfaces of the conditioner and against the opposition of the incoming tangential streams. The outlet, 0, being smaller than the interior of the conditioner, and preventing immediate escape, the steam is whirlingly banked against the inner periphery of the conditioner and the state of pressure in the outer part of the vortex is higher than at'its axis. However, the open race comprising the successive spaces R, R, at the bottom of the tuyre permit the downward displacement of the vortex toward'the outlet; thence to move inwardly, and downward through the outlet.

Because of the before explained generous size of the tuyeres, which reduces the entering velocity of the steam as compared with its exit through the smaller outlet, and because in a measure it is compressed by the centrifugal action just described, the steam arrives at the outlet at a pressure which very nearly equals the pressure in the outer steam space containing the conditioner.

Next, the outlet is seen to be crowded with steam of higher pressure than exists at the axis of the vortex above the outlet, which tends to exclude the steam that makes up the central portion of the vortex. And that effect is aided or accentuated by the conical part '45 positioned between the outlet and the closed end of the conditioner. Every vortex has an entraining effect at its free end. It is there that the part 45 is located; and, that part characterized by the concavity or conical sink 46 and hence is shaped to first receive and then eject the straying quantities of moisture which reach the top of the fixtures, as further set forth herein.

, The generation of a vortex which is of greater diameter than the outlet, coupled with the restricted axial extent of the race R causes the steam to move toward the outlet slowly; that is, the steam makes numerous turns within the conditioner and, in moving downward follows spirals of small pitch. This has an obviously important relation to the minimization of the height or altitude of the conditioner as a whole; and in particular, causes the vigorous whirling action of the steam to be accentuated in the race; all without materially limiting the departure of the steam in an axial direction, once the outlet is reached.

The dirty water which is to be removed from a state of entrainment within the steam is carried through the tuyres of the conditioner and is projected into and against the streams of steam, which compose the vortex whirling toward the outlet. Being heavier than the steam, the water particles are more pronouncedly affected by the centrifugal force incident to the whirling motion imparted to them by the propelling streams. In consequence, the water is massed or collected in and upon the outer periphery of the vortex of steam and in this case aided by gravity, the water spirals downward and finally whirlinglypasses the parting edge or face 30' that marks the bottom of the tuyere and the top of the separating race. Many such quantities of water are indi- 'cated by the dots and dashes in Fig. 10, the heavier accumulations thereof being indicated by the marks W.

Because of the before mentioned higher pressure maintained at the periphery of the vortex, small quantities of water are expelled upwardly, that is toward the plate 29; and yielding to the lower pressure at the axis of the vortex, such water passes inwardly across the inner face of the tuyre top 29 and thus reaches the outer side of the central cone 45. The apex portion 45 of that member is smaller than its open base 45" and the water received on the cone and still affected by the whirling of the vortex, upon reaching the base 45" is, so to speak, returned to the outer portion of the vortex. Becoming detached from the cone, such water is ejected centrifugally, as upon the resultant angles W appearing in Fig. 10.

The presence of the cone 45 distends the inner dimension of the vortex, and converts the upper 'portion of the tuyere space into an annular pressure accumulating cavity 47. The increase of pressure largely defeats the tendency of the higher peripheral pressure to displace the water toward the top, as aforesaid, and the member 45 has less actual work to do in the matter of returning water to the periphery than might be expected.

The vortex exhibits an intermediate top or cen- 'tral portion, directly beneath the conical element 45, and as small quantities of water are sometimes expelled across the periphery 45a of the cone special means are provided for intercepting them. Such means comprise the inner conical surface 45b and the sink or cavity 46. Due to downward whirling movement of the steam directly beneath the cone, a void of high efficiency is maintained in the conical cavity 46 and the Water which passes the edge of the cone is caught in that void, being displaced inwardly by the heavier streams of steam moving toward the outlet. The individual particles because of lack of mass are intercepted and held at the margin of the sink 46 and as the individual particles become agglomerated .with others and attain sufficient mass they are expelled centrifugally. That is, the stray quantities of moisture which reach the interior of the element 45, are massed at the lower edge of the surface 45 and under the influence of the whirling contact with the inner face 30 thereof.

vortex the small masses are centrifugally expelled toward the inner sides of the tuyere blades; in other words, restored to the outer periphery of the vortex, following spiral courses approximately indicated by the dotted resultant lines W.

Following the course above recited, practically all of the water is whirlingly presented in the plane of the tuyre base 30, approaching close Under the whirling propulsion of the steam, the water is projected outwardly and downwardly into the race R, and striking the wall 32a, falls into the annular discharge slot 40a, and thence sinks into "the cistern'40. The limits of the race are pre- 'scribedby the wall 32a and the vertically opposed surfaces 30a and 34. As the race is in open communication with the vortex containing central portion of the conditioner, both the race and the cistern are constantly filled or banked with steam at the pressure existing opposite the face 300.. The steam and water whirl rapidly in the race but the position of the narrow peripheral slot 40a at the outerperiphery of the race R, results in maintaining an equal pressure throughout the water are assembled into would tend to whip or underlying and wider cistern 40. Further, the limited width (narrowness) of the peripheral discharge slot 40a prevents any active interchange of steam between the cavi ies R and 40, such as lift the water from the cistern 40, and the water is permitted to quietly fall into and drain away through the attached pipes a. and under a pressure of steam which makes these pipes effective, as aforesaid.

It:should now be explained that when steam is flowing into and through the conditioner at usualvelocities, the accompanying particles of a whirling annulus or vertical barrel which, distinguishably, is of less diameter than the interior of the tuyere. This is explained by the fact that while centrifugal force tends to drive the water particles outward that force is resisted and partially balanced by the inwardly displacing forces of the entering streams of steam. But the vortex as a. whole constantly moves toward the outlet, carrying with it the entrained or suspended annulus of water particles, and thus the water is progressively moved below the active plane or region of the incoming tangential streams. Obviously, at such level the centrifugal forces are released, and become so effective that most of the water is projected against the parting face 30 and into the underlying race R. However, all of the water is not thus safely deposited in the race R, nor is all of the water retained therein; hence the pro vision of the secondary and smaller race R; adjacent the outlet, 0.

The subsidiary race R'- is made necessary by the sweeping movement of the steam radially inward toward the outlet and particularly by the limited height of the separating space. The dimension is limited because it is desirable that both the steam. and the water shall enter the race upon spirals of such low pitch'as to ensure the development and predominant action of the centrifugal forces, which forces successively resist the tendency of the steam to sweep the water through the outlet. Further, the separating space is limited because of the desirability of a fixture or conditioner of minimum height and which therefore may be positioned at maximum height above the water in the boiler.

The descending water which approaches or contacts the parting face or margin 30' of the tuyere orifice 31, promptly moves outward into .on the race floor 34.

the cavity 33 and that being the region of the highest centrifugally engendered pressure it is accompanied by a layer of steam. The steam is relieved and continues its movement, finding a region of slightly lower pressure at the bottom of the race. pitched downwardly and outwardly (see conical surface 34) some water is held upon that surface. Furthenthe water which descends through the large opening 31 and which does not gain contact with the face 30', is in considerable part deposited Much of the water so deposited swirls outward and passes into the outer cistern but there is a'residue which escapes and which must be withheld from the steam outlet.

That residue of water is displaced inwardly and reaching the intermediate orifice 35a is swept downward into the inner race R and along with water which is therein directly separated from the vortex is deposited in the cistern 41.

' yond the flange which presents the conical surface 39. Because of the high pressure maintained in the race R and cistern 41, and therefore in the upper part of the radial space 26a and down pipes leading therefrom, the water drains freely from the cistern at all times.

The floor portion or lip 35b which overhangs the slot 41a is narrower than the part 30 which fully overhangs the slot 40a and there is a lesser tendency to displace steam downwardly along the skirt 37 and less to disturb the water collected in the bottom of the amiular cistern 41. Therefore the slot 41a may be quite as commodious as the slot 40a, making certain that it will remain open and unclogged.

In the manner described, the cisterns 40 and Although the floor of the race is 41 receive practically all the moisture and solids 1 Figs. 10a to 14 inclusive.

The structure of Fig; 10a may be presumed to be identical with Fig. 10, except that the racefloor portions 35:: and 39:: are flat, as before described. Other parts of Fig. 10 are identified by the reference marks used in the preceding figures.

The structure of Fig. 11 differs in the shape of the tops of the race-floor portions 48 and 49, each thereof flaring upward in its outer peripheral portion. The construction saves height inthe cisterns below them and more nearly restricts the cross-sectional shapes of the races to the rectangular forms shown in Fig. 10a but with those of Fig. 11 and to the same ends.

the advantage that the conical surfaces better initiate and ensure the outward discharge of the water accepted from the whirling steam. A bottom 50 of conical shape serves to show that the invention is not limited to a fiat bottom for the conditioner, nor to drain pipes which hang directly downward therefrom. Angular drain connections 51 and 52may be substituted.

The structure of Fig. 12 illustrates race-floor portions 53 and 54 of still other shapes and which more closely limit the cross-sectional tuyre is positioned within that opening and com prises a plurality of radially positioned inclined blades 57, together with the central portion 58, which latter contains a vortex defeating void or cavity 59 resembling the cavity 46 of Fig. 10. By preference the ends of the blades 57 are cast or embedded within the parts 55 and 58 respectively. The conditioner of Fig. 13 cannot be placed closely beneath the dome cap of a locomotive, an advantage of previously described conditioners, for space must be allowed for the entrance of steam across the top of this conditioner, of Fig. 13. From that point or level, the steam passes inward and downward toward the outlet and because of the inclination of the blades 57 takes on the requisite whirling motion within the vortex space 60. As a result, the moisture is centrifugally separated upon the inner wall of the part 55 and is quickly presented at the shoulder or parting line 300. The vortex is of larger diameter than in the case of a conditioner of the type shown in Fig. 10 and the diameter of the steam outlet being the same, the pressure drop which characterizes Fig. 13 is higher; particularly as the aggregate of the radial tuyre necessarily is relatively limited. In other respects the performance of the fixture of Fig. 13 is of the order previously described.

The structure of Fig. 14 illustrates the invention as embodying a limited diameter tu'yere 61, which receives the steam through a top opening 62 and delivers the steam outwardly through tangential or inclined tuyeres 63. The bottom 64 is preferably conical in order that it may present a void 65 above the outlet 0.

at the top by the top ring 66 belonging to the tuyre 61. This fixture has a parting line or constriction 3012 which, as before, is positioned above the outlet 0. The top race R2 may be characterized by a constricted periphery 32d while the cistern 40d retains the proportions of Fig. 10. The lower and smaller race R3 is modified in that the portion 3501 fully overhangs the slot 41d of the underlying cistern. The tuyre floor portions of Fig. 14 may be of any of the shapes described; for example, may resemble When these conditioners are used upon horizontal and inclined axes, as contrasted with the vertical position preferred, the eject openings of the cisterns are made in the bottom side of the That void, however, is not as effective as the void 46. The body- 66 resembles the body 55 of Fig. 13' but is closed conditioner; and, in some cases the ejects should lead tangentially from respective cisterns, to further facilitate the discharge of collected impurities. The invention admirably accomplishes all purposes and acts required to purify and condition the steam outputs of locomotive-boilers and in so doing enhances the working values of the locomotives to which the invention is applied. The specific conditioner hereof is also adapted for use in other boilers and containers; and likewise, is adapted to condition or purify air and other fluids, not being restricted to steam.. Further, and while these conditioners seem best adapted for use in open spaces and in open advance of outlets leading therefrom, the invention is adapted for embodiment within casings or shells which adapt the conditioners for use or inclusion in pipelines of corresponding capacities. Thus, Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-section of an elbow-like or angle-type casing 6'7 having a removable cover plate 68; and, madeto contain a conditioner of the type shown in Fig. 10. As illustrated, all parts of the conditioner proper are best formed separately and then assembled within the casing, and there fixed to prevent movement. In like fashion, the fixture of Fig. 16 comprises the two-part straight line casing 69 which simi larly encloses or contains a conditioner of the type illustrated in Fig. 13. And, Fig. 17 depicts a casing or shell 70 which is suitable for the enclosure of a conditioner of the type shown in Fig. 14.

ternal discharge pockets or traps suitable, forf use with the pipe lines in which the fixtures are placed.

A furtheradvantage of this invention appears in the fact that :because the dome may be entered while the standpipe 12 remains in place, that portion of the fixture may be made in one part with the dry pipe, being either integral therewith, or, welded thereto. Considerable labor and expense can be saved in this way, particularly in the case of new locomotives, and all dangers of leakage are avoided.

Finally, attention is called to the. facilities afforded for the connection of the so-called auxiliary dry pipe or pipes at a level beneath the steam conditioner, in order that theauxiliaries upon the locomotives shall also be supplied with'steam which is both clean and dry. Ordinarily, the auxiliary dry pipes are brought forward from a fountain head upon the rear end of the boiler and are bent or carried upward into the dome. Under the present invention the auxiliary dry pipes are merely bent to reach openings in the rear side of the standpipe 12 and are attached to that portion by simple bolted flanges. The flange bolts are freely accessible through the dome, after the conditioner has been removed. These simple parts will be clearly understood without illustration. To avoid complicating the drawings they were omitted therefrom.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. A non-rotative centrifugal fixture adapted to separate substances from fluid flowing therethrough and comprising a bowl-like base portion composed of telescopically separable upper and lower parts which are held against relative rotation with a vortex initiating inlet .portion erected upon said top of the base above said opening, and said base containing annular separating races which are successively disposed between said opening and said outlet and also containing suitably drained cisternsfor the reception of the separated substances and said cisterns being beneath and in restricted peripheral communication with respective races.

tion of the separated substances, said cisternsbeing beneath respective races, and annular race fioor portions which substantially separate respective races and cisterns, leaving each pair thereof in restricted peripheral communication.

3. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 and in which the vortex initiating inlet portion contains a vortex controlling sink of less than its own diameter and which is coaxial with said outlet, said sinkopening toward said outlet but being axially spaced therefrom.

4. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 and which is provided with a cistern drain that comprises av vertical pressure compensating pipe of a length permitting its lower end to be submerged in liquid and the said lower end being constantly open but of less area than the body of the pipe.

5. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 and in which the vortex initiating inlet portion comprises a many bladed barrel type tuyere having a closed top.

6. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 and in which the vortex initiating inlet portion comprises a many bladed barrel type tuyere havinga closed top and which coaxially contains a vortex controlling hollow cone the apex portion of which is fixedly attached to said top.

7. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 and having an upstanding annular wall that separates its cisterns, in combination with any annular race floor in the form of truncated cones of opposite inclination and fixed upon said wall.

- CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. 

